Jefferies Goes Deep: Dips into Cards' Wallet for $4.6 Million

Jefferies Goes Deep: Dips into Cards' Wallet for $4.6 Million

Article excerpt

Gregg Jefferies became the highest-paid Cardinals player and
winner of the second-highest arbitration grant ever Thursday night
when an arbitrator ruled in favor of his $4.6 million request
rather than the Cardinals' submission of $3.7 million.

Jefferies, who was unavailable for comment, had his hearing in
Chicago on Wednesday.

Cardinals general manager Dal Maxvill, who had not been told
officially of the arbitration outcome, "If this is the case, I'll
say that it's a process which gets us to a solution. Obviously, an
arbitrator felt more inclined that his number was better than ours.
Now that that's over, let's play ball."

Outfielder Ruben Sierra, then with Texas, won $5 million in a
1992 arbitration hearing, which will be surpassed by Chicago White
Sox righthander Jack McDowell before the week is over. Shortstop
Ozzie Smith had been the highest paid Cardinals player at $3
million, with pitcher Bob Tewksbury seeking $4.5 million Friday in
an arbitration hearing. …